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Washington Schools Bus System Will No Longer Stop At Individual Homes

(WASHINGTON) - When school starts on Aug. 14, a new era in bus service will begin in Washington as buses will no longer stop at individual homes.

Nate Smith, of Washington Times-Herald reports details were given Tuesday on new policies that will create bus stops on school bus routes, and will tighten school bus rules for student safety.

Washington Assistant Superintendent Gary Puckett said due to budget constraints, the schools had to look for a a way to save dollars, but still provide the best service.

"We still want to offer bus service for every student in our corporation," Puckett said.

The new system will, Puckett said. Registration, which begins today for area schools, will have bus information with telephone numbers for contracted bus drivers. Parents are to get in touch with bus drivers or the central office to find out where the closest bus stop to them will be.

"They can call me at the central office or their bus driver," Puckett said. "The bus driver has all the stop info and approximate times."

Also changing are some of the procedures that some parents have taken for granted, including where students can be picked up and dropped off.

Buses will only pick up and drop off at accredited child care providers along the route. This includes day care facilities.

Puckett said situations where several students are dropped off at a home different from the child's parents will not be allowed. Also, according to the release, children have to use the bus regularly, not sporadically.

"That way, the bus driver knows that child and where that child is going to," Puckett said.

But for students that have changed schools due to school choice, Washington schools will have a shuttle bus for transfer students. School-approved transfers will be allowed to use the shuttle bus.

Washington Catholic students will still be allowed to ride Washington school buses, but will have to follow the same rules as Washington students. They are asked to contact the central office at 254-5536 with any questions.

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